The Ultimate Image Capture

Many of us working in ministry can remember the days when using PowerPoint in weekend worship was considered cutting edge. Seeing how far video technology has advanced over the past decade or two, it’s almost embarrassing to admit even remembering those days of 640x480 VGA resolution. Today, 4K video is steadily becoming the standard for new generations of film and video application, presenting real creative and practical possibilities for churches.

4K cameras capture imagery at a resolution nearly 4,000 pixels wide—four times the resolution of the previous HD standard— and it yields stunningly sharp results when displayed correctly.

Seeing the recent boom of 4K televisions and monitors at the local Best Buy or Target, you may be tempted to wonder whether the term is really anything more than a marketing ploy. And given the rise and fall of in-home 3D a few years ago, you are probably right to ask. Simply stated, 4K cameras capture imagery at a resolution at, or nearly at, 4,000 pixels wide (usually 3,840 to be precise). This is actually four times the resolution of the previous HD standard, and it yields stunningly sharp results when displayed correctly.

Beyond creating footage that’s sharper, 4K video also utilizes a higher sampling bit-rate, which means 4K cameras are capable of capturing colors that look considerably more accurate and cinematic than HD cameras. All of this additional resolution and color data also presents new options in post-production, long after the filming is wrapped.

4K in Action

In the ministry world, there are already a number of ways 4K cameras are being incorporated into both established workflows and emerging media expressions. The most obvious is within the context of image magnification (IMAG) systems for live worship and streaming. Many tech teams currently projecting in HD are already beginning to invest in 4K cameras ahead of eventual full system updates—for two important reasons: First, purchasing a broadcast-style camcorder is a significant investment, and 4K units provide a prudent level of future-proofing. Secondly, down converting, or “super-sampling,” 4K footage to HD almost always provides an image that is superior to anything shot natively in HD. Another important application of 4K technology is in the rapidly growing arena of church filmmaking. Effective churches today are moving beyond simple video announcements and into the realm of filmmaking more comparable to the work of Hollywood. Film is a powerful tool for telling stories of life change, expressing complex spiritual truths, recapping powerful moments in the life of a church, and building excitement around upcoming initiatives. As these ministry film teams work to help churches compete in the arena of ideas, having cameras that can truly capture high quality footage is essential. 4K cameras designed specifically for documentary and feature filmmaking have dropped in cost dramatically over the past two or three years, putting powerful digital film cameras in the hands of churches for the first time. Not only are these cameras capable of capturing cinematic footage, the increased resolution allows filmmakers to reframe and reuse the same shot, reducing the amount of production time and gear necessary to create high-quality projects. While "affordable" is a relative term given a specific ministry's setting and content, the cameras in this round up represent some relatively reasonable options in the 4K camera market today.

Understanding Church Client Needs

Yet another way that churches are beginning to use 4K cameras is in the area of live streaming special events that happen outside of the main auditorium. As social media juggernauts like YouTube and Facebook continue making live streaming easier to set up and access, it becomes increasingly possible for churches to use a single camera to webcast a special event, class or meeting with minimal additional production gear. All they have to do is set up the 4K video camera in an ideal filming location, sync it up to a nearby laptop connected to the Internet, and they’ve got a professional-looking, single-camera stream ready to go. As with most new technology, taking the leap into 4K will constitute an investment in the future by your church clients’ ministries. Thanks to some newly released cameras already on the market, making that leap is more affordable than ever before.

The Line-up

Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K — Street Price: $2,495

When it comes to cameras for IMAG, “affordable” is not a term used with much frequency—which is why the announcement in 2015 of the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K made such a big splash in the industry. This "affordable 4K camera is designed from the ground up for broadcast applications, and this is apparent in the large, 10-inch LCD monitor built directly into back of the camera. The Studio Camera 4K also has a talkback communication included, eliminating the need for an additional expensive ClearCom set up for your camera operator. The camera outputs to both 12G-SDI and Fiber Video I/O simultaneously, allowing it to broadcast to the control room and record to an external device if needed. That this feature set and capability all comes in at $2,495 is astounding. Of course, your church clients will need to factor in the cost of a lens and ATEM switcher to get the most out of this camera—but even including these additional items, this is a an excellent value for 4K broadcast.

JVC GY-LS300 — Street Price: $2,995

Another solid option for live streaming is the JVC GY-LS300, one of the more unique 4K camcorders on the market. In many ways it seems designed with digital filmmaking in mind, because it features 4K recording to a super-35mm sensor in very high quality bitrates. It also records up to 120fps slow motion in HD. On the other hand, the GY-LS300’s built-in wireless control and live streaming, making it a solid choice for live event work. Potential buyers will need to budget for an additional Micro Four Thirds lens to use with the camera, but even with this consideration the GY-LS300 is still a considerably value-conscious 4K option.

BlackMagic URSA MINI — Street Price: $2,995

In terms of sheer value, there are very few digital cinema cameras that compare to the new Blackmagic URSA Mini. It films 4K at up to 60fps at extremely high bit rates in the very popular ProRes and Raw formats. One of the most interesting aspects of the URSA Mini is its large1080p touchscreen monitor, making menus easy to navigate and focus pulling a snap. The only possible downside to this camera is that it doesn’t feature the strongest lowlight performance. As with almost all digital cinema cameras, buyers will need to budget for an EF mount lens or two as well as CFast 2.0 memory cameras in order to use the URAS Mini. But even with these items factored in, this is easily one of the best 4K digital cinema values on the market today.

Sony PXW-Z150 — Street Price: $3,199

One new addition to the Sony camcorder line that should spark a great deal of excitement in the ministry world is the PXW-Z150. It’s an all-in-one solution that packs a number of sought-after features into one cost effective package. In addition to shooting 4K at speeds up to 30 frames per second, the Z150 also features dual XLR audio connections for professional-level audio. The camera incorporates a built-in 12x zoom lens and records to widely available SD memory cards. Best of all, the Z150 boasts the ability to live-stream directly from the camera over a Wi-Fi network, which is ideal for streaming special event and classes.

AJA CION — Street Price: $4,995

Moving in the realm of 4K cameras designed specifically for digital cinema work is the AJA CION. It is a camera that records all flavors of 4K at some of the highest bitrates available, making the footage it captures very easy to manipulate in post-production. The CION also films on an APS-C sensor, as well as featuring an electronic global shutter, making the camera idea for run-and-gun, documentary-style shooting. Buyers will also need to budget for PL mount lenses as well as $500 AJA SSD memory cards to get the camera up and functional.

Hitachi Z-HD5000 — Street Price: $28,830

The Z-HD5000 is Hitachi’s most economical, high-performance Studio and Field HDTV production camera. This is a proven, full featured production camera that uses three high-resolution, low noise 2/3-inch, IT-CCDs, according to the company. Its lightweight, two-piece dockable camera body is designed to offer maximum re-configuration ability. A compact digital fiber transmission system or Hitachi’s patented digital Triax reportedly enables smaller production facilities to lower their overall system costs.